When experimentation leads the way
- Alexandria creates both wheel thrown and hand built vessels
- She is fascinated by texture, experimentation and the integration of imperfections
- Atmospheric firing techniques define her colour palette
In 2023, Alexandria Roby returned to fine art to develop her career in ceramics, shifting away from her work as a graphic designer in the tech industry. “I felt called to create with raw materials, to reclaim a deeper sense of connectedness,” she says. Her practice has evolved from functional tableware to organic, textured vessels that balance imperfections and refinement in distinctive ways. Alexandria finds fulfilment in working with clay, which she describes as both humbling and rewarding. “I think it is because I create from my soul. When you truly tap into your own essence and flow, your practice becomes something no one else can replicate or capture,” she says. Alexandria enjoys experimenting with wild clay and ancient firing methods to enhance her finished pieces.
Discover her work
INTERVIEW
Allowing the flame to be a co-collaborator with my art is something that deeply fascinated me. Pit firing produces beautiful variations from white to grey and black, shaped by organic materials such as coffee grounds, dried manure and sawdust. There is always an element of mystery in the result.
The work I am about to create will be influenced by everything I have experienced across different continents over the past year. Subconsciously, I notice that I incorporate shapes, patterns or forms inspired by ancient pottery traditions from the places I have visited.
There are limitations with clay. Ceramicists speak about the material needing to be nurtured. While that is true, I am drawn to exploring its nuances and allowing natural breakage to unfold. Sometimes, when things simply happen, they become my favourite part of the piece.
I am fascinated with seeing how texture can be created or what the results are when experimenting with materials to imprint the clay. My practice is about exploration, creating that sense of play and finding out what that process can evoke within me. Play becomes the bridge.
